When a Christian sins (NOT willfully), do they lose their salvation, or do they just hurt their relationship with Christ?
There are several biblical ways to look at this.
1. Does the scriptures teach that a person can be born again, again, then again, then again, into perpetuity? Of course not!
2. If the believer lose salvation that means that the initial payment for sin by Christ was insufficient. This means that God did not accept the cross and Christ must die in the place of the believer every time the believer sins in the future.
The Bible does not teach such heresy and blasphemy. Do you realize that the believer sins every second of every day? If you are in doubt, ask yourself, what are the requirements to enter heaven? One must have righteousness, wisdom, holiness, in perfection from conception throughout all your existence.
Now ask yourself, have you ever even for one second been perfect, before or after faith in Christ? If you are honest, the answer obviously is, no. The believer's perfection in all those attributes comes from Christ and Christ alone.
For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. Hebrews 10:14
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Cor. 5:21
But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.” 1 Cor. 1:30-31
3. The new birth isn’t the believer ceasing from sinning although it impacts the believer’s desire for and propensity to commit sins. It changes the believer’s desire through the imputation of the new nature.
The new birth is a killing of the human spirit which lives inside of our bodies on the cross with Christ. Then the new creation of a new human spirit placed back inside our old bodies (we will get a new one after death of the old body) through the resurrection of Christ.
The new birth is a new CREATION, a new human spirit, not a change of behavior. If you don’t understand this then you will be confused into believing that it’s YOUR behavior that saves you and keeps you saved.
That’s not the gospel and is a works based salvation which is a false hopeless salvation. All you need is Christ for salvation and the new nature sealed by and with the Holy Spirit using your knowledge of the scriptures WILL CHANGE YOUR BEHAVIOR TO BEND TOWARDS PLEASING GOD AND NOT YOURSELF.
Hope that helps
